In the Biz: Saratoga Farmers Market moving outdoors May 1

Saratoga Farmers Market will move outdoors Wednesday, May 1, to the pavilions at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs, providing local residents and tourists the chance to "buy local" from more than 50 regional farms and other producers.

The market's opening festivities for the outdoor season are scheduled for Saturday, May 4, and will include live music.

The last indoor market at Division Street Elementary School will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27.

Once outside, Saratoga Farmers Market will operate twice a week through the end of October at High Rock Park from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

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The Saratoga Farmers Market Association maintains a "producer-only" standard for all of its markets, requiring vendors to grow or produce their goods in Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer or Washington counties to ensure products are fresh and unique, not purchased for resale. The market makes a few exceptions to this rule for foods not available locally.

The Brook Tavern at 139 Union Ave. in Saratoga Springs held its grand opening last week with complimentary samples from the menu and help from Saratoga Sponsor-a-Scholar, to which owner Bob Lee donated 50 percent of his bar proceeds.

Although the tavern is new, Lee is not new to the business -- he is a member of the family that has owned the Wishing Well restaurant at 745 Saratoga Road in Wilton for 45 years.

"We are fortunate to have a loyal clientele at the Wishing Well," Lee said. "We look forward to serving new diners on Union Avenue."

Patrick Longton, executive chef at the Wishing Well, developed the new menu, which features some variations on that restaurant's items. The Brook Tavern menu also includes salads, small plates, flatbreads and such entrees as grilled New York strip steak and Faroe Islands salmon. Hours will be 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Brook Tavern was previously home to The Turf Club, The Springwater Inn and Springwater Bistro.

As part of a soft opening, Javier's, the nuevo Latino restaurant owned by New York City maitre d' Javier Rodriguez, will begin lunch service this week. The eatery will offer ceviche, empanadas and tacos, as well as steaks, fish, salads and sandwiches. Healthier options also will be offered.

The menu features salt and pepper fried whole branzino, which is Mediterranean sea bass, and paella, which is a rice, meat and vegetable dish. Dessert includes tres leches, which is a light cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated, condensed and whole.

The restaurant, located in the 17 Maple Ave. space that was formerly home to 28 Tables and Metro, will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday and brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Lunch will be served Monday through Friday from April 22 until the liquor license is approved, after which dinner service will be added.